Com m utato r-b ru s h



(No Model.)

W. H. MORGAN. GOMMUTATOR BRUSH.

Patented May 26 UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

IVILLIAM H. MORGAN, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO.

COMMUTATOR-BRUSH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 560,737, dated May 26,1896.

Application filed February 20,1895. Serial No. 539,127. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ILLIAM H. MORGAN, a resident of Alliance, in thecounty of Stark and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Commutator- Brushes; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in commutator-brushes, and moreparticularly to such as are used as contact devices or shoes forelectrical switches, the object of the invention being to so construct acommutatorbrush that it will readily adjust itself to any irregularitiesin the commutator or contact plates and insure proper electricalconnection therewith.

A further object is to so construct a commutator-brush that it shallhave a multiplicity of yielding parts adapted to engage thecontact-plates of a commutator or switch.

lVith these objects in view the invention consists in certain novelfeatures of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, ashereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of myimprovedcommutatorbrush. Fig. 2 is a sectional view. Fig. 3 is a plan view, andFigs. 4 and 5 are detail views.

A represents the frame of my' improved brush or shoe, and comprises ends1 2, connecting-bars 3 and 4, and a socket-piece l, projecting from theend 2 of the frame and adapted to receive the switch-arm or other deviceby which it will be carried or supported. The brush or shoe per secomprises a series of contact-plates 5, having curved contact edges anddisposed edgewise between the ends 1 2 of the frame, said contact-platesbeing arranged in several sets of three (more or less) plates each, sixsets a Z) c d e f being shown in the drawings.

Each plate 5 is made at one end with a hook 6, adapted to engage one ofthe connectingbars of the frame, and the other end of each contact-plateis made with an arm 7, having a hook 8 at its free end. Thecontact-plates,

with the exception of those at the respective ends of the device, aremade with shoulders 9 to form bearings 10 for said plates against one orthe other of the connecting-bars of the frame,the bearing 10 of the endcontact-plates being preferably formed by the junction of the arm 7 withthe body of the plate.

The contact-plates are preferably arranged in sets of three, the platesof each set being parallel with each other; but the sets of plates areso disposed that the curved contact edges of one set will benon-coincident with the contact edges of the adjacent set or sets. Whenthus arranged, the arms 7 of the sets-a c e of contact-plates willalternate with the hooked ends 6 of the sets I) d f of contact-plates atone side of the device. At the other side of the device the hooked ends6 of the sets a c c of contact-plates alternate with the arms 7 on thesets I) d f of plates. The hooked ends of arms 7 of adjacent sets ofplates are connected together by means of springs 11, as shown in Figs.2 and 3.

From the construction and arrangement of parts above described it willbe seen that one end of each set of plates is yieldingly connected withthe frame of the device and that the curved contact edges of the varioussets of plates are so disposed that those of one set will benon-coincident with those of the adjacent sets. Thus a shoe or brush isformed having a number of yielding contact-plates, the yielding portionof one'set of plates projecting beyond the non-yielding portion of theadjacent set, so that the contact edges of one set of plates will not becoincident with the adjacent sets, and the brush made to accuratelyconform to any irregularities of the contact-plates of the switch orcommutator and insure good electrical contact therewith.

My improvements are very simple in construction, easy to repair, ifnecessary, and effectual in all respects in the performance of theirfunctions.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is--= 1. A commutator brush or shoe composedof a series of independently-yielding sections having curvednon-coincident contact edges, substantially as set forth.

2. A commutator brush or shoe comprising a series of yielding sectionsso arranged that the contact edges of one section will be noncoincidentwith the contact edge of the adjacent section, substantially as setforth.

A commutator brush or shoe comprisin a series of pivotally-snpportedsections, said sections being adapted to yield at one end, and saidsections being so disposed that the yielding end of one section will beadjacent to the unyielding end of the next section, sub stantially asset forth.

at. A commutator brush or shoe comprising several sets of yieldingcontact-plates disposed side by side, the adjacent ends of two adjacentsets of plates being so disposed that contact faces or edges of adjacentplates will be non-coincident, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a frame, of a series of contact-plates pivotallyconnected at one end to the frame and yieldingly connected at the otherend to said frame, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a frame, of several sets of contact-plates, oneend of each set being pivotally connected to the frame, and the otherend being yieldingly connected thereto, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with a frame, of several sets of contact-platespivotally connected at one end to said frame and yieldingly connected atthe other end to said frame, the

yielding ends of said sets of plates alternatforth.

8. The combination with a frame, of a contactplate pivotally connectedthereto at one end and bearing at the other end on said frame, and aspring for yieldingly retainin said contact-plate in its normalposition, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with a frame, of two contact-plates having arms, saidplates having pivotal bearings at one end on the respective sides of theframe, and bearing on said frame at their other ends, and a springconnecting the arms of the respective plates, substantially as setforth.

10. In a commutator brush or shoe, the combination with a frame, ofseveral sets of contact-plates, each plate having an arm at one endadapted to project beyond the frame and ahook at the other end to engagethe frame, said sets of plates being so arranged that the arms of oneset will alternate with the hooked ends of the adjacent set, and springsconnecting the arms of one set of plates with the hooks of the adjacentset, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

\VILLIAM H. MORGAN.

WVitnesses:

E. WooLeAR, A. F. MORRIS.

